For starters, anybody who expects stellar optical performance from a 400 dollar 11,1x zoom, better stop reading right now. It is not going to happen, not with this one, nor with the Nikkor, even if it costs $ 300 more.Summary:I got this lens in a hurry, because I needed an all-purpose lens to cover a spur-of-the-moment client event. At the time, this was the only 18-200 mm. available in Santiago. I also took a look at the (now discontinued) 18-125 mm. f/3.5-5.6D Sigma, but decided against it because it lacked the built-in focus motor necessary on the Nikon D40, my target camera.

Summary:I bought this lens to replace my AI-S 100-300 mm. f/5.6 Nikkor. Nikon currently does not offer any lens in this range, while the 200-400 f/4 zoom or the 300 and 400 mm. f/2.8D primes all cost from $ 4.000 up.That kind of cash does not fit my budget, while such an investment could not be justified due to my infrequent use of this type of lenses. To my own surprise, however, I have used this lens much more often than my old 100-300 Nikkor.

There is now a new version available, baptized AT-X PRO 12-24 mm. f/4G DX II, which includes an internal focus motor (for AF on the D40, D40X, D60, D5K series and D3K series) plus an improved coating, supposedly to better its resistance against flaring and ghosting.http://www.dpreview.com/lensreviews/tokina_12-24_4_n15/

Summary:If you want wide on a DX, this is *wide*. With its excellent sharpness, nice handling and solid construction you’ll be hard pressed to find another 12-24 that offers this much bang for the buck. As almost all extreme wide angles, it vignettes wide open, especially at 12 mm., but I have found that stopping down just slightly eliminates the problem completely.Flaring and/or ghosting may also be a problem, but mostly if you shoot against the light or do not use the supplied petal-shaped lens hood. Thanks to internal focus (IF), it stays in place (just as your filters) because the front end of this lens does not extend or rotate.

For people who are new to photography, and even to those who have been around for a while, the ocean of terms and abbreviations used by camera manufacturers can be quite confusing.They are even worse than the military, whom are notorious for their love of the upper-case short-for.

Of course, every brand has its own favorite denominations, such as VR, OS, IS or IOS, which are all referring to optical image stabilization – either in a lens or in-camera (sensor shift).Built-in silent focus motors in lenses also go by some unique brand short-for: HSM, USM, XSM, SDM, and SWM, among others, and the stuff you read on lenses or in lens spec sheets, these days, can be a real challenge: AF-S VR Micro 105mm f/2.8G ED Nikkor; G indicates it does not have an aperture ring, while, according to the spec sheet it is IF, features SWM and N, but is not DX – thus, FF or FX. How about that for lettersoup?

It would go too far to create a reference for all the imaginative terms the camera- and lens manufacturers invent and with this being a Nikon related blog, after the break you will find what is a – already very long – list of general photography and Nikon gear terms.Enjoy!